project prompt and summary

In your technical fields, you encounter user manuals, FAQs, process explanations and instructions on a regular basis. The success rates of these instructions vary, as you know. Some are precise and informative; others are clunky and unusable. With your experiences, you can have encountered effective and clear instructions. This project will produce original instructions for a process that you know well.

In your groups, choose a technical process that you know well and use regularly. Your group will have to pick something that you can have easy access to, and that you can use for usability testing. A software program is a good choice. Other possible topics can be a new Web 2.0. See readings in calendar for more about Web 2.0.

For this project, you and your partner(s) will create your own original set of instructions with necessary illustrations for an audience of knowledgeable college students. This will be a longer document, 10-15 pages, with 8-10 illustrations or visuals, two of which your group will design. You need at least 25 steps. Other aspects of the project include a proposal memo, a progress report blog, as well as a usability tests, the completed instructions, and an introductory memo.

Additional Notes:

• You can't write instructions for downloading a software. The instructions need to be about using a function or process within the program.
• You can't write about any program in the Microsoft Office Suite

project goals

Writing in Context

• develop original instructions for your target audience
• understand the needs of different audiences, and how to make your instructions clear, concise and readable
• employ the rhetorical strategies of instructions, usability tests, memos and other related documents

Writing Process

• draft instruction steps, develop illustrations and images, and update steps after usability test
• develop a usability test that judges your instructions and offers effective means of feedback

Research

• find the necessary information to write the instructions effectively
• document that research

Document Design

• learn the visual rhetoric principles that apply to effective instructions, images and illustrations
• produce a visually appealing document with high readability and usability

Collaboration

• work in smaller groups to produce effective instructions
• communicate, both face-to-face and electronically, with your group for the most effective result

Project Management

• complete many smaller drafts and documents in the process of completing the instructions
• use project logs and other documents to maintain a record of the project

deliverables

Proposal memo (10%) - This 600-word memo identifies and explicates the topic you choose. This document will go into greater detail about your topic, provide possible sub-topics and instructions sections, offer an overview of preliminary research, and most importantly, outline each group member's roles and duties throughout the project. Final Due: February 27.

Usability test (15%) Any set of instructions involves many usability tests. Your group will create a test that follows the guidelines in our readings. This is more than a peer review of your questions. Other groups will use your instructions and try to use the software or object you write about. You'll need to create a document to facilitate this testing process. The document should be a page long with 8-10 questions or guidelines. Draft due: March 3 5. Final due: March 19

Instructions (60%)- With these, your group will fully describe how to complete a task with your software, technology, equipment or other object. To be successful, you'll need at least 25 steps. With your illustrations, this will produce around 10-15 pages. Of your 8-10 illustrations and visuals, your group must design and create two of them. You will also need an introductory memo or cover sheet for your instructions. Draft due: March 19. Final due: March 24

Project Revisions memo (15%) - This one-page, single-spaced memo will outline the changes you implemented after the usability test. After discussing the usability test results, three or four sections can focus on the revisions, updates and changes. Due March 24

Individual Project Logs (part of interaction grades) - On each Friday of the week, each individual will have to post a 100-word blog about their work and contributions on the project for that week. Not only will it help you stay on task, it will help you with the group and project assessment form at the end.

Individual Assessment of Group and Project (part of interaction grades) - At the end of the project, each individual will fill out a confidential peer and project assessment form. This provides the instructor with confidential feedback on group performance, as well as insight into benefits and drawbacks of the project. With this feedback, I can determine if I need to lower grades of lazy group members.

Failing to turn in drafts on the due date will result in a one letter grade deduction from your final grade.

grading and grading criteria

(Collaborative: 25% of course grade)

Your individual grade for this project will be based the work produced by your team and the quality of your contribution to the project, as determined by your project evaluation forms and project logs. Project 2 is worth 25% of your overall course grade.